The Oscars: the Red Carpet

Oscar night has arrived—even though it feels as if The Kings Speech
wrapped up the major award categories weeks ago. Nevertheless, here's
hoping that at least one of the dark horse Best Picture contenders (The
Social Network, Black Swan) manages to keep the contest from being a
sweep. In the major acting categories, we've got a sneaking suspicion
that Colin Firth and Natalie Portman will be delivering eloquent
acceptance speeches. But, we've spotted a few prognosticators making
"Hail Mary" Oscar picks by choosing Biutiful's Javier Bardem and The Kids Are Alright's Annette Bening.

Stay
tuned: Even before hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco take the stage, we kept a
running tally of what's happening at and around the Kodak
theater, via the zillions of cameras on ABC's live-streaming Oscar All Access Pass:

Running Tally: What Happened On the Red Carpet?

(6:40 ET) The 'Lobby Bar' Cam? - ABC's Access Pass has cameras positioned all over red carpet and theater for Oscar fans to peruse. The Wire has been watching something called the "Lobby Bar Camera" for the past ten minutes. Presumably when stars enter they'll be ordering from the bar. Update: We just heard a champagne bottle being uncorked. In real time.

(7:05 ET) "I'm 6'5", 220, and there's two of me." - Armie Hammer stops by ABC's announcer's cam and asked to repeat his Winklevoss line from the Social Network. He politely finds a way not to say the exact line.

(7:15 ET) Jackie Weaver - When the Best Supporting Actress nominee was asked to compare the Oscars to the Australian version of the show, she naturally replied, "This is about one hundred times bigger."

(7:32 ET) Aaron Sorkin - Asked on the red carpet how many award
shows he has attended recently, he replied: "There
have been a few, I don't mind."(7:36 ET) Tom Hooper - The King's Speech director responded to a question of how humor played a role in the drama's success. He responded: "It's been the movie's secret weapon."

(7:47 ET) Mark Ruffalo - "I don't feel guilty at all," when asked on the carpet whether he felt guilty about being nominated for a character which took only six days to film in The Kids Are Alright.

(7:51 ET) Eli Wallach - When asked how he felt about receiving an honorary Oscar award last fall he quipped: "I was shocked and surprised!" Wallach's favorite movie of 2010: "Wall Street."

(7:55 ET) Sandra Bullock - in a red carpet interview, she joked about Jeff Bridges now-annual nomination for best actor: "Jeff Bridges is selfish, I said it."

(7:57 ET) Donald Trump - The possible (?) presidential contender responded that the category he'd be nominated for would be "best looking actor" and mentioned that he really liked King's Speech out of the picture nominees.